The Banner came into our tenure in January 2013. We were shocked at the poor condition of it and were doubtful if it could be saved. The silk was shredded and was coming away from the border, the centre panel was dirty and water damaged. In the past somebody had tried to repair it with red sticky tape.
The Durham Mining Communities Banner Groups Association put us in touch with Billy Middleton who has worked on many old lodge banners that other professional conservators had refused to touch. Billy has spent many painstaking months trying to piece the silk back together using netting and sticky back tape. The banner has also had a clean and repainted.
Although Billy continues with the restoration and the project remains ongoing these are the latest photographs of the work achieved so far.
September 2013
Restoration of the lodge banner has been supported financially by East Shields & Whitburn Community Area Forum. South Tyneside Council.
The Lodge Banner is now on permanent display in
Whitburn Library.
Mill Lane
Whitburn
Sunderland
SR6 7EN
Tel 5293412
Opening times:
Mon: 9.30am – 12.30pm 1.30pm – 7pm
Tues: 9.30am – 12.30pm 1.30pm – 5pm
Wed: closed
Thurs: 9.30am – 12.30pm 1.30pm – 7pm
Fri: closed
Sat: closed
Click link for map and directions.